So much depends
upon
a wool woven
girth
drenched in horse
sweat
beneath the horse's
belly
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a very intriguing book. George Orwell used an allegory to tell the story of the Russian Revolution, which is a very interesting way to tell such a story. I plan on reading George Orwell's novel 1984 to see if he can pull me in and really get me engaged in the novel like he had done with Animal Farm.
When we were given Animal Farm to read, I am going to be very honest, I was thinking, "What in the world? Animals, talking and ruling a farm? I am going to dislike reading this book!" I was very wrong when I thought that, and I am happy, and very thankful, that Animal Farm was given to us because I would have never picked the book up on my own.
In the book Animal Farm, there is a little farm called Manor Farm which is ran by an old drunk named Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones starves the animals and works them to death, treating them horribly even when they try their hardest to please him. When the day is over Mr. Jones sits drunk on his couch, and sometimes neglects to feed the animals because he wants to go get drunk with his friends.
The oldest pig on the farm Willingdon Beauty, known by the other animals as Old Major, calls the animals to a meeting one night to share a dream that he has had. Old Major was the wisest animal on the farm and the other animals respected him greatly so they all showed up. In the meeting Old Major shared his dream of a new world where animals live freely with plenty of food, free from the ruling of mankind. Then Old Major dies a few days later, and soon the animals begin the revolt that he dreamed of.
Two pigs step in and take the leadership roll, Snowball, and Napoleon. They create seven commandments to live by so that they follow Old Major's words and dreams, but nothing as important as starting a new life is ever simple.
I do not want to ruin all the good twists and turns in the book because they are something that a person must experience and take in at their own pace and point of view. Let me just say, there are some really deceitful characters, animals in this case mainly, in Animal Farm.
Parts of the book really infuriated me, not the book itself but the actions of the character. I actually screamed at the book once saying, " NO WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT!? WHY ON E EARTH WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT!?" My grandparents came to check on me in my room to make sure I was okay. I just laughed at myself.
Animal Farm is a great novel, and everyone should read Animal Farm sometime in their life. The novel is interesting and very educational on a whole new level. George Orwell did a magnificent job of capturing the Russian Revolution in this little novel. So next time you see Animal Farm on the library shelf pick it up and give it a chance. Trust me, the books is not just about pigs and chickens eating corn.
When we were given Animal Farm to read, I am going to be very honest, I was thinking, "What in the world? Animals, talking and ruling a farm? I am going to dislike reading this book!" I was very wrong when I thought that, and I am happy, and very thankful, that Animal Farm was given to us because I would have never picked the book up on my own.
In the book Animal Farm, there is a little farm called Manor Farm which is ran by an old drunk named Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones starves the animals and works them to death, treating them horribly even when they try their hardest to please him. When the day is over Mr. Jones sits drunk on his couch, and sometimes neglects to feed the animals because he wants to go get drunk with his friends.
The oldest pig on the farm Willingdon Beauty, known by the other animals as Old Major, calls the animals to a meeting one night to share a dream that he has had. Old Major was the wisest animal on the farm and the other animals respected him greatly so they all showed up. In the meeting Old Major shared his dream of a new world where animals live freely with plenty of food, free from the ruling of mankind. Then Old Major dies a few days later, and soon the animals begin the revolt that he dreamed of.
Two pigs step in and take the leadership roll, Snowball, and Napoleon. They create seven commandments to live by so that they follow Old Major's words and dreams, but nothing as important as starting a new life is ever simple.
I do not want to ruin all the good twists and turns in the book because they are something that a person must experience and take in at their own pace and point of view. Let me just say, there are some really deceitful characters, animals in this case mainly, in Animal Farm.
Parts of the book really infuriated me, not the book itself but the actions of the character. I actually screamed at the book once saying, " NO WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT!? WHY ON E EARTH WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT!?" My grandparents came to check on me in my room to make sure I was okay. I just laughed at myself.
Animal Farm is a great novel, and everyone should read Animal Farm sometime in their life. The novel is interesting and very educational on a whole new level. George Orwell did a magnificent job of capturing the Russian Revolution in this little novel. So next time you see Animal Farm on the library shelf pick it up and give it a chance. Trust me, the books is not just about pigs and chickens eating corn.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Techie Tools
I would have to say that my favorite techie tool would have to be blogs. I write on my school blog, and I enjoy doing so. I like to share with others my opinions on books, and I like to share the little poems that I write from time to time.
Blogs are universal so everyone in the world can see what you are writing. So a person like me who likes to share views, ideas, and opinions will most likely enjoy blogging. Outside of my school blog I have a few more blogs sites where I post poems and ideas that are deeper and closer to my heart. Blogging is like an escape for me. I can feel the ideas running from my mind, to my fingers, onto the keys, and on the computer screen. The feeling is very enjoyable.
I keep my school blog strictly business, except for one time when I got my new laptop, and I use my other blogs as a sort of place to play. One day I hope to actually get noticed in the blogging world, but I do not get my hopes up because I have learned better than to do that. There are plenty of other ways and actions to become noticed for, but everyone has to have little hopes.
Blogs are universal so everyone in the world can see what you are writing. So a person like me who likes to share views, ideas, and opinions will most likely enjoy blogging. Outside of my school blog I have a few more blogs sites where I post poems and ideas that are deeper and closer to my heart. Blogging is like an escape for me. I can feel the ideas running from my mind, to my fingers, onto the keys, and on the computer screen. The feeling is very enjoyable.
I keep my school blog strictly business, except for one time when I got my new laptop, and I use my other blogs as a sort of place to play. One day I hope to actually get noticed in the blogging world, but I do not get my hopes up because I have learned better than to do that. There are plenty of other ways and actions to become noticed for, but everyone has to have little hopes.
Vampire Kisses
Most little girls have an idea of what they want to be when they grow up. Some little girls want to be doctors, some want to nurses, some want to be vets, and some want to be beauticians, but Raven Madison has always wanted to grow up and become a VAMPIRE! Raven is a Gothic girl that loves the thought of vampires living around her and loves the thought of living in the darkness.
Ellen Schreiber wrote the book Vampire Kisses, and she did a good job of keeping in the book. There were times when the events in the book would be really slow, but then there would be a huge climax of excitement and adrenaline. I enjoyed the book and I have continued reading the Vampire Kisses series. The next book, Vampire Kisses: Kissing Coffins, is a bit better than the first. Raven gets deeper into a world that she knows nothing about.
In Vampire Kisses, Raven Madison is an outcast and lives life hiding in the shadows. She calls the town she lives in Dullsville because everyone acts proper and wears pastel colors. The only aspect of the town that interests Raven at all is an old abandoned, and supposedly haunted, mansion.
One day a new family moves into town, and the new family moves into the old abandoned haunted mansion that Raven uses as a play ground. Rumors begin to fly around about this new family because they, just like Raven, behave a little different from everyone else in town. Raven makes it her mission to find out about this new family. What Raven does not expect is true love to be jumping out in front of her and making her head spin.
Vampire Kisses is a supernatural book that is not really deeply supernatural. This novel is not as far into supernatural as some vampire and werewolf books get. There is of course love in the book, I hardly read books that do not involve love in some way. I have finished the first two and I plan on getting the next book Vampire Kisses: Vampireville as soon as I get to school in the morning. I left out a bunch of juicy, scrumptious scenes and details so you should read the book and see what you are missing!
number of pages: 272
Ellen Schreiber wrote the book Vampire Kisses, and she did a good job of keeping in the book. There were times when the events in the book would be really slow, but then there would be a huge climax of excitement and adrenaline. I enjoyed the book and I have continued reading the Vampire Kisses series. The next book, Vampire Kisses: Kissing Coffins, is a bit better than the first. Raven gets deeper into a world that she knows nothing about.
In Vampire Kisses, Raven Madison is an outcast and lives life hiding in the shadows. She calls the town she lives in Dullsville because everyone acts proper and wears pastel colors. The only aspect of the town that interests Raven at all is an old abandoned, and supposedly haunted, mansion.
One day a new family moves into town, and the new family moves into the old abandoned haunted mansion that Raven uses as a play ground. Rumors begin to fly around about this new family because they, just like Raven, behave a little different from everyone else in town. Raven makes it her mission to find out about this new family. What Raven does not expect is true love to be jumping out in front of her and making her head spin.
Vampire Kisses is a supernatural book that is not really deeply supernatural. This novel is not as far into supernatural as some vampire and werewolf books get. There is of course love in the book, I hardly read books that do not involve love in some way. I have finished the first two and I plan on getting the next book Vampire Kisses: Vampireville as soon as I get to school in the morning. I left out a bunch of juicy, scrumptious scenes and details so you should read the book and see what you are missing!
number of pages: 272
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Spring Break Running
I loved this past spring break! I did not do a whole lot, but I did get to do something absolutely amazing! I am going to wait and save the best for last. I have taken a lot of great trips out of Arkansas for spring break, but this one trip within Arkansas tops all others by far. I plan on sharing the experience with others in the future.
The first part of my spring break was really slow. I worked most days either cleaning the house, or working at The Grill (The Italian Grill, everyone who works there calls it The Grill for short). I love my job and I love the people I work with. They are all older than me, but we still have a lot of fun, making the working time fly by. I tried to get in a lot of days working since I did not have school, and I got to work my first weekday lunch hour. To be honest the weekday lunch hour was a little slow for my taste. Anyway, I made a lot of money to spend on the rest of my spring break.
Over spring break I also visited with my mom Becky, and we took Dakota to see the movie Monsters vs. Aliens. Ever though the movie is a kids' movie my mom and I still found the movie to be very hilarious! I also got to see the movie Taken, and let me tell you that movie was very intense. The scary thing is that situations like the one in the movie Taken happen everyday, which is incredibly scary and unbelievable. Never travel alone and never trust strangers is all that I have to say.
Now here is the great part of my spring break. I can hardly remember any other part than this one. I GOT TO GO TO THE HORSE RACES IN HOT SPRINGS!!!! I had so much fun! I know, all the races are to most is money running around an oval track, but the races were so much more than that to me. I got such a rush watching the horses racing, and the rush did not stop after the first few races, I experienced the exertion in every race. I so wish I could race just once. Those horses are going extremely fast, and are pouring all their heart into every step. Most people do not know how it feels when a horse loves something as much as you. You can feel the passion the horses have radiating off of them. I seriously plan on going back to the horse races, and this next time I am bringing a sun hat and a camera. The horse races may not be much for most people, but for some one like me, that loves the magnificent creatures, the horse races are the best!
The first part of my spring break was really slow. I worked most days either cleaning the house, or working at The Grill (The Italian Grill, everyone who works there calls it The Grill for short). I love my job and I love the people I work with. They are all older than me, but we still have a lot of fun, making the working time fly by. I tried to get in a lot of days working since I did not have school, and I got to work my first weekday lunch hour. To be honest the weekday lunch hour was a little slow for my taste. Anyway, I made a lot of money to spend on the rest of my spring break.
Over spring break I also visited with my mom Becky, and we took Dakota to see the movie Monsters vs. Aliens. Ever though the movie is a kids' movie my mom and I still found the movie to be very hilarious! I also got to see the movie Taken, and let me tell you that movie was very intense. The scary thing is that situations like the one in the movie Taken happen everyday, which is incredibly scary and unbelievable. Never travel alone and never trust strangers is all that I have to say.
Now here is the great part of my spring break. I can hardly remember any other part than this one. I GOT TO GO TO THE HORSE RACES IN HOT SPRINGS!!!! I had so much fun! I know, all the races are to most is money running around an oval track, but the races were so much more than that to me. I got such a rush watching the horses racing, and the rush did not stop after the first few races, I experienced the exertion in every race. I so wish I could race just once. Those horses are going extremely fast, and are pouring all their heart into every step. Most people do not know how it feels when a horse loves something as much as you. You can feel the passion the horses have radiating off of them. I seriously plan on going back to the horse races, and this next time I am bringing a sun hat and a camera. The horse races may not be much for most people, but for some one like me, that loves the magnificent creatures, the horse races are the best!
Anthem Essay CAUTION: SPOILER
I recently typed an essay on the novelia Anthem by Ayn Rand for my English class and for a contest. I did not get to enter the contest, which saddens me, because I had not realized we had to submit the essay on our own via email. That is my mistake by far, but now i will know in the future how to enter a contest like the Anthem contest. We had three topics to choose from. I chose to discuss the causes I believe were making the people in Anthem die at an early age. The people in Anthem normally died around the age of 40, and were considered ancient if they lived to the age of 45. Both of which are very young ages to die at. The three main causes were that the people had no life, no health care, and no hope. The biggest cause that I leaned toward is that they poor people had not hope at all. Here is an exert from my essay:
“Life without hope is no life at all.” -Sri Chinmoy This is so very true. What are we without hope? What is the point of living if we have no hope? Hope is the base of all living, and the people of the City had not hope at all. The people of the City had no alternate paths, no free will. The people of the City were told early in their life the employment path which they would follow. They could not question the decision that the Council of Vocations made about their job, because “the Council of Vocation knows in it’s great wisdom where [they] are needed by [their] brother men, better than they can know in [their] unworthy little minds.” Aside from being told the job they would occupy, and that they were stupid and unworthy, the people of the city were also told who they would “mate” with. The City had a law “that men may not think of women, save at the Time of Mating.” No man or woman could love each other. At the time of mating men and women were assigned to each other and they are to conceive a child. The children would be born the following winter and sent to the house of the infants. No families to love each other just reproduction and moving on. No hope that a person would get to raise their child and see them grow into an individual existed at all. No one could be individuals, everyone had to think as a group, and never ever say the word I because saying I would get their tongue cut out and their death brought on by burning. The people of the City had no life at all, no hope, and no love. The only thing that the people of the City had to look forward to was sitting in the Home of the Useless and decomposing slowly. Why live if there is no hope that you will be remembered or live a full happy life? A life with no happiness is no life at all.
I loved the book Anthem, but I feel sorry for all the characters. I even felt sorry for the main character, Equality 7-2521. He got out of the City and away from poor life there, but he was put through so much when he lived in the City. He had hope and he had a soul, so the people looked down on him for such. In the end, Equality 7-2521 journeyed his was out of the town and made a huge discover in which he would use to start a new life and create a new civilization, but none the less his journey was atrocious. I could not live in the world created in Anthem, I would rebel or take off with Equality 7-2521 because love, faith, hope, and freedom are very important to me. They are very close to my heart.
“Life without hope is no life at all.” -Sri Chinmoy This is so very true. What are we without hope? What is the point of living if we have no hope? Hope is the base of all living, and the people of the City had not hope at all. The people of the City had no alternate paths, no free will. The people of the City were told early in their life the employment path which they would follow. They could not question the decision that the Council of Vocations made about their job, because “the Council of Vocation knows in it’s great wisdom where [they] are needed by [their] brother men, better than they can know in [their] unworthy little minds.” Aside from being told the job they would occupy, and that they were stupid and unworthy, the people of the city were also told who they would “mate” with. The City had a law “that men may not think of women, save at the Time of Mating.” No man or woman could love each other. At the time of mating men and women were assigned to each other and they are to conceive a child. The children would be born the following winter and sent to the house of the infants. No families to love each other just reproduction and moving on. No hope that a person would get to raise their child and see them grow into an individual existed at all. No one could be individuals, everyone had to think as a group, and never ever say the word I because saying I would get their tongue cut out and their death brought on by burning. The people of the City had no life at all, no hope, and no love. The only thing that the people of the City had to look forward to was sitting in the Home of the Useless and decomposing slowly. Why live if there is no hope that you will be remembered or live a full happy life? A life with no happiness is no life at all.
I loved the book Anthem, but I feel sorry for all the characters. I even felt sorry for the main character, Equality 7-2521. He got out of the City and away from poor life there, but he was put through so much when he lived in the City. He had hope and he had a soul, so the people looked down on him for such. In the end, Equality 7-2521 journeyed his was out of the town and made a huge discover in which he would use to start a new life and create a new civilization, but none the less his journey was atrocious. I could not live in the world created in Anthem, I would rebel or take off with Equality 7-2521 because love, faith, hope, and freedom are very important to me. They are very close to my heart.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Anthem
" We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever." These are the words that the people, in the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, had to repeat to themselves when they were tempted to think as an individual. Could you imagine living in a world where you could not be an individual? A world where egos are baned. A world where the world I is obsolete and is a crime to say. A world where saying the word I would get your tongue cut out and have you burned at the stake, in front of the whole town.
That is the type of world Ayn Rand created in her novella Anthem. The main character, Equality 7-2521 goes against all of the new rules of the future. He falls in love with a women, and works in secret to learn more about the "Unmentionable Times" so that he can lessen the toil of his "brothers." From the day Equality 7-2521 was born he saw himself as cursed because he was smart and questioned many of the teachings he was taught, and this made him different so he was always in trouble. Equality 7-2521 was not like anyone else in the City, his soul was not broken and he was strong. So when he finds a hole full of artifacts from the "Unmentionable Times" he sets to work learning more.
Equality 7-2521 is a great character and the book Anthem is an outstanding book. Ayn Rand really know how to get into a person's head and make them think about the world around them. As I read this book, I realized how lucky we are to have all the freedom we take for granted day in and day out. I am reading another one of Ayn Rand's books. The title of the book is Fountainhead. The main character in this book is also a man who is being put down and criticized for his way of thinking, but his situation is a a lot different than Equality 7-2521's. I do not want to go and tell you all about Fountainhead so far because I think that you should read the book to. I am excited to see where the man's journey takes him.
Ayn Rand is my new author to explore for now. I really enjoyed Anthem so I am excited to read her other books. I encourage everyone to read Anthem as a sort of enlightenment. Ayn Rand writes in a very vivid way that makes every scene pop up in front of your eyes.
That is the type of world Ayn Rand created in her novella Anthem. The main character, Equality 7-2521 goes against all of the new rules of the future. He falls in love with a women, and works in secret to learn more about the "Unmentionable Times" so that he can lessen the toil of his "brothers." From the day Equality 7-2521 was born he saw himself as cursed because he was smart and questioned many of the teachings he was taught, and this made him different so he was always in trouble. Equality 7-2521 was not like anyone else in the City, his soul was not broken and he was strong. So when he finds a hole full of artifacts from the "Unmentionable Times" he sets to work learning more.
Equality 7-2521 is a great character and the book Anthem is an outstanding book. Ayn Rand really know how to get into a person's head and make them think about the world around them. As I read this book, I realized how lucky we are to have all the freedom we take for granted day in and day out. I am reading another one of Ayn Rand's books. The title of the book is Fountainhead. The main character in this book is also a man who is being put down and criticized for his way of thinking, but his situation is a a lot different than Equality 7-2521's. I do not want to go and tell you all about Fountainhead so far because I think that you should read the book to. I am excited to see where the man's journey takes him.
Ayn Rand is my new author to explore for now. I really enjoyed Anthem so I am excited to read her other books. I encourage everyone to read Anthem as a sort of enlightenment. Ayn Rand writes in a very vivid way that makes every scene pop up in front of your eyes.
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